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Newcastle United 2–0 West Ham United – Reaction

Brian Jeeves reporting from St James Park

Sam Allardyce admitted he knew West Ham’s trip to Newcastle would be his final match in the Upton Park hots seat.

The Hammers have slipped badly since the festive period with pressure mounting from the stands as another campaign disappointingly petered out.

Speaking after goals from Moussa Sissoko and Jonas Gutierrez had saved Newcastle’s bacon and condemned the travelling support to a lengthy journey home to reflect, Allardyce explained: “I knew it was coming, I’ve no problem, I’ve had a discussion with the owners, I wasn’t going to sign a contract and we both agreed it was probably the right time to get a move on.

“The hard thing is keeping it from everybody, we all tried to do our best to do that.

“I just told the players afterwards thank for the four seasons here and I’ve really enjoyed to opportunity to manage a great club like West Ham.

“I spoke to David Sullivan personally yesterday on the phone, and we both move forward.”

An upbeat John Carver said: “It’s the emotion of everything, I’m still trying to take it all in. It’s quite amazing because I said to the lads before the game that today is going to be a rollercoaster, but we’ve got to be able to deal with the emotion. I thought we dealt with it ever so well.

“When you think about the whole season in general, it’s been a rollercoaster of a season. Starting back in pre-season when we lost Jon and Liam (the fans killed aboard flight MH17, while travelling to a match).

“That was tough for their families, for the football club. Two of our outstanding fans losing their lives supporting the football club. Special thanks to the families for their support, and they were there today the two lads, I think it might have been the two lads who got us over the line. And that’s what I believe in.”